Editor’s note: The United States Postal Service (USPS) receives no tax dollars for operating expenses. It relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.
At 226 W. Main Street, a weathered, uninviting bench had been in front of United States Post Office, Morrison, IL, for over a decade. It was in place since the time Tom Moholland was Postmaster. In October 2020 it was transformed by Sheila, one of nearly two dozen, dedicated, Postal employees.
“I wanted to get it [the painting] done before bad weather” set in, stated Sheila. “I got a lot of compliments.” This bright resting spot has brought smiles during stressful months.
To its dying breath, 2020 was an extraordinary year of challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to being quarantined, lack of travel, and social distancing, Post Offices were crushed with an historic amount of mail and package volume during the holiday season.
Officer in Charge Sabrina noted volume “visibly increased” leading to “lots of overtime. It is easier to keep in contact with people you can’t normally go see” by mailing messages and gifts.
Twenty-two Morrison employees had worked seven days a week and overtime to sort, process, and deliver a huge volume of mail. On Sundays, packages from Amazon were processed. Staff were committed to ensure delivery–even if it was delayed in the last days before Christmas.
“We thank our customers for their continued support, and we are committed to making sure gifts and cards are delivered on time to celebrate the holidays,” Kristin Seaver, Chief Retail and Delivery Officer of the Postal Service had said. “We also thank our 644,000 employees who are working tirelessly throughout these unique conditions, to ensure the delivery of holiday gifts and greetings.”
Every year the Postal Service carefully plans for peak holiday season. In 2020, the historic record of holiday volume was due to people not sharing in-person celebrations. Compounding their effort was a temporary employee shortage due to the COVID-19 surge, and capacity challenges with airlifts and trucking to move this huge volume of mail. There were some temporary delays across the Nation. Two Morrison positions are now vacant. Visit www.usps.com and click on “USPS Jobs/Careers” at the bottom of the page.
However, in Morrison, the Editor mailed a Christmas box on Thursday, December 24. She was told by the Clerk that, even though it was a Priority Mail delivery, it might not reach her son’s door in San Diego, CA, until Tuesday, December 29. Other Priority Mail might be delivered ahead of hers. The package was delivered on Saturday, December 26!
A similar stress point began earlier this year and continued through the first week of November. Post Office Clerks and Carriers were critical in protecting citizens’ right to vote safely by mail. Whiteside County Clerk Dana Nelson stated, “We usually have 4500 persons who vote early (in-person at her office) or absentee (by mail) and 25,000 who go to the polls. This year we anticipate up to 10,000 early/absentee votes to be cast.” Over 12,000 such ballots were cast, 43% of the total of 27,623 votes.
- In July 2020, Nelson began the process by mailing all eligible voters (over 25,000) an application to request a pre-election, mail-in/early vote ballot.
- Those ballot requests were returned to the Post Office, processed, and delivered by carriers to Nelson’s Whiteside County Courthouse office.
- More than 12, 000 ballots were mailed from there, processed by USPS staff, and delivered to local voters.
- Finally, absentee ballots were mailed to the Post Office, processed, and delivered back to the County Clerk, ahead of the Tuesday, November 3, General Election.
It is not surprising that in late 2020, inside the Morrison Post Office, extra care was taken to lighten everyone’s mood, as they awaited, or offered, Postal service. Silver glitter, card stock reindeer greeted customers in the outer vestibule. Inside, there were bows on the wall, and a display beside the waiting line. A wall poster announced an upcoming family movie, “Dear Santa.”
The vignette featured a mailbox to receive children’s letters to Santa Claus; Denise furnished a whimsical moose helper. Sheila brought an illuminated Christmas tree, topped with a silver star and skirted in plaid. She added staff names to several, felt stockings. Decorations included last-minute gift cards and holiday cards, for purchase from the lobby display carousels.
She began purposefully. “Let’s really make it cheery for the people who can’t go see their relatives and have to mail packages,” she had thought. Denise agreed and assisted.
Sheila painted this wall tree, displayed on the west side of the lobby. Denise’s sister, Shanda, (not a USPS employee) designed seasonal ornaments for employees.
Missy is the Postmaster; Sabrina is Officer in Charge. December Clerks and Carriers included Mitch, Sheila, Jamie, Liz, Shanna, Joyce, Kate, Denise, Chris, Jessica, Jarrod, Donna, Katrina, Brandyn, Kristen, Nicole, Kelly, Ariel, Beth, and Paul.
Kudos to all Morrison USPS personnel who steadfastly deliver business and personal mail to our doors.
